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School of Data Science

UVA’s newest school — and the fastest-moving frontier for new ventures.

$120Mfounding gift, 2019
$20Msecond building, 2024
2024first building opened

Overview

Built on the largest private gift in University history, the School of Data Science opened its first building on the Emmet-Ivy Corridor in 2024. Its industry front doors are strong; a school-level commercialization unit for AI and data ventures does not yet exist.

  • Data Science Industry Partners Program — four tiers from $5K to $50K+, with curriculum input and recruiting access
  • Sponsored MSDS capstone projects with external and research partners
  • $20M second-building gift (2024) to expand entrepreneurial activity
  • Open question: whether AI venture formation gets a home here or in Enterprise Studio
  • Founded 2019 on a $120M gift from Jaffray Woodriff’s Quantitative Foundation — the largest individual private grant in UVA history
  • The first school of data science in the nation

Connected across the map

TranslationEnterprise Studio115 venturesThe NationNational industry & VCAstraZeneca · RA Capital · DroiaTranslationSolutions Labsin developmentSpeed & ScaleCODE Building215K sq ft downtownThe SchoolsWise & NOVAUVA beyond GroundsTranslationCorporate Partnersevery school has themSpeed & ScaleEmmet-Ivy CorridorSDS + entrepreneurshipThe CommonwealthTech Talent Program$1.1B / 20 years

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